April 15, 2019 - The 29th round of the Croatian First League was held from April 12 to 14, 2019. The fight for the ‘Top 4’ on the table is getting even more exciting, as Hajduk jumped over Lokomotiva to fourth place thanks to a massive win on Sunday. 

Check out our round 29 recap below. 

Osijek v. Rudeš (2:0)

Osijek and Rudeš opened the 29th round at City Garden Stadium on Friday, April 12, 2019, in front of 791 fans. 

Osijek scored their first goal of the game early thanks to Kleinheisler in the 11th minute. Marić was able to up Osijek’s lead in the 42nd minute for 2:0, which was the final result of the game. Marić did have the chance to make it 3:0, though he missed a penalty in the 82nd. 

Osijek is currently in 3rd place with 50 points, while Rudeš remains in last with 10. 

Istra 1961 v. Dinamo (0:4)

Istria and Dinamo met in Pula on Saturday, April 13, 2019.

Ademi scored Dinamo’s first goal in the 20th minute, which was followed by Oršić’s goal for 0:2 in the 44th minute. Olmo increased Dinamo’s lead in the 65th for 0:3, which was followed by another goal by the Spaniard in the 73rd for 0:4. 

Istra is in 9th place with 18 points, while Dinamo remains in first place with 76 points. 

Rijeka v. Inter Zaprešić (7:0)

Rijeka and Inter met at Rujevica on Saturday, April 13, 2019. 

Halilović opened Rijeka’s scoring fest with a goal in the 27th minute. Puljić increased Rijeka’s lead in the 41st for 2:0, and scored a penalty 3 minutes later for 3:0. 

Acosty scored Rijeka’s fourth goal at the start of the second half, followed by a Pavičić goal in the 58th for 5:0. Puljić scored his hat trick in the 88th for 6:0, and secured Rijeka’s blowout win with his fourth goal of the game in the 91st. 

Rijeka is currently in 2nd place with 56 points, while Inter is in 7th with 27.

Gorica v. Slaven Belupo (4:3)

Gorica and Belupo met in Velika Gorica on Sunday, April 14, 2019. 

Belupo was the first to score with a goal by Krstanović in the 9th minute, though Gorica equalized in the 27th minute thanks to Ndiaye. Gorica took the lead in the 34th minute after Lovrić scored, and increased their lead to 3:1 thanks to Dvorneković. 

Mateus brought Belupo new life after scoring in the 62nd minute for 2:3, and Krstanović equalized in the 86th for 3:3. However, Zwolinski scored a late-game winner for Gorica in the 90th minute (4:3). 

Gorica is currently in 5th place with 45 points, while Belupo is in 8th with 26. 

Lokomotiva v. Hajduk (0:1)

Lokomotiva and Hajduk met on Sunday, April 14, 2019, in Zagreb to close out the 29th round. 

The game was the battle for 4th place, and Hajduk prevailed. Though the first half went without goals, Hajduk’s Jairo scored in the 80th minute for 0:1 and the win. 

Lokomotiva has dropped to 6th place with 44 points, while Hajduk has jumped to 4th with 47 points. 

You can see the full HNL table here. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.  

The Institute for Sports Research (CIES) published an interesting analysis of attendance at football stadiums around the world, which includes an impressive figure by Hajduk Split. 

April 9, 2019 - The 27th and 28th rounds of the Croatian First League was held from April 2 to 8, 2019, for one very busy week of Croatian football.

June 12, 2015 - the date that marks the last time the Croatia national football team touched the pitch at Poljud. The infamous swastika spotted during Croatia’s Euro 2016 qualifying match against Italy then shocked the world, and the thought of the Dalmatian capital hosting the national team no longer crossed the minds of the Croatian Football Federation. 

However, as nearly four years have passed, discussions about Split hosting the national team are back on the table, which is not terribly surprising, considering Maksimir stadium is in shambles, and Croatia’s other stadiums in Osijek and Rijeka are too small for the crucial Euro 2020 qualifying games. Modrić & Co., the 2018 World Cup finalists, could return to Split this autumn, which has been confirmed by the top of HNS, reports Gol.hr on April 4, 2019. 

The Split audience could welcome the Croatia national team at Poljud at the end of the year, at least as far as newcomer HNS executive director Marijan Kustić is concerned. 

"I said that it would be nice if we got revenge on Hungary in Split," Kustić said to Dnevnik Nova TV. The Euro qualifying match against Hungary is scheduled on October 10th.

Hajduk was asked to comment on Kustić's latest announcements, though they expressed that they have nothing new to say about this topic. The Split club pointed out that their candidacy to host the matches against Hungary and Slovakia was sent to HNS in December, but they have yet to receive an official response.

Kustić replied. 

"Well, I know that first and foremost some conditions need to be met before the game itself is organized, so, first of all, I think we have to sit down at the table. I deeply hope that it will come soon, that we will sit with the representatives of the City of Split and, of course, the leaders of Hajduk."

Recall, along with their submission to HNS, Hajduk sent a request for a meeting in Split with his where the club will present their proposals to improve the work of the Federation. They also included eight conditions for Hajduk's more active engagement in other HNS-related activities. You can read more here. 

"There is a sincere desire from the Croatian Football Federation, and I am sure that people in Dalmatia, of course, want the team in Split."

But what do the people of Split think?

"No!"

Why not?

"I have no idea, in short: I do not follow the team."

Another Split citizen thinks differently:

"Let them play; why not? It is the national team, where else would they play but Split?"

The President of the Split-Dalmatia County Football Federation even had his say on the issue.

"There is an intent by HNS, which you can see from Mr. Kustić's statement, and I think that Hajduk has nothing against the conversation. So, the first step is to sit down and talk," concluded Marko Erceg, NS president of Split-Dalmatia County.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

April 1, 2019 - The Croatian First League returned for the 26th round over the weekend after the international break. It was a rather exciting weekend for Hajduk who moved into 4th place, which currently secures them a Europa League spot. However, things are not as optimistic for Osijek, after coach Zoran Zekić turned in his mandate. 

On Thursday, the HNS Assembly was regularly held where the Executive Committee named the new Executive Director of the Croatian Football Federation. The director of Competition and Infrastructure, Marijan Kustić, succeeded Damir Vrbanović, whose mandate expired, reports Gol.hr on March 28, 2019. 

"I am grateful to President Šuker and the Executive Committee for the trust they have given me, and I will do my utmost to do my job well," said the new Executive Director who is now officially the second man in HNS.

When asked whether this was a significant change in the Federation, Kustić answered:

''I have my way of working, of evaluating myself.”

Davor Šuker also announced that a national stadium would certainly be built Blato, Zagreb. 

"Let everyone do their part of the job and I hope we will soon have a wonderful stadium, and the ideal location is Blato. We are going step by step, but are working on all factors together. We can also get the funds from Uefa and Fifa, we know the costs according to their standards,” Šuker emphasized.

The HNS president stressed that there has been a lot of talk about infrastructure lately, but now things have calmed down. 

“I talked a lot about infrastructure, and now things have calmed. The stadium will be built. We want to offer our guests at least the minimum we receive when we play away, as clubs and the national team,” he said.

He also added that HNS would help Hajduk around Poljud.

"Moving forward with the stadium in Zagreb means thinking about what we will do with Poljud; we want Osijek, Rijeka and Split to be satisfied with the new stadium. We will also help Poljud, and we will talk about the ways and the money."

Kustić also presented his take on the stadium. 

“Nothing is definite. There is still a lot in combination, as we are talking to Gorica and others. But the team will continue to play throughout Croatia, that's my attitude,” Kustić said. 

Hajduk representatives attended the HNS Assembly in Zagreb as passive observers. Hajduk was represented by sports director Saša Bjelanović and head of the Academy Krešimir Gojun, as President Marin Brbić had other business obligations, reports Dalmacija Danas.

The Hajduk representatives said they opposed the financial report and the amendments to the HNS statute, as well as the construction of the national stadium. Recall, the 2018 financial report revealed that from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2018, the Croatian Football Federation achieved revenues of HRK 435.5 million and expenditures amounting to HRK 371.6 million, and achieved an excess revenue of over HRK 63.8 million. Excess revenue will be used in years when there is no final competition, or when the Federation achieves a deficit of revenue over expenditures.

"At this point, we think we are not rich enough to invest in such a thing. Hajduk is opposed to building a national stadium. Our position is that it is better to invest in camps and local infrastructure because there have been a lot of missed investments in the past, and we know who is paying for it,” they said. 

"To build a stadium that we would play at once a month or once every three months is completely pointless. I also think that we are not a rich nation that can afford a national stadium. There is no need for that. It would be better to build camps so that our kids have somewhere to play,” Hajduk concluded. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić had no patience in Budapest after Croatia fell to Hungary 2:1 in their second Euro 2020 qualifier. In front of the TV cameras after the match, Dalić was in charge, but at the press conference, he responded to journalists resignedly and barely waited to escape. It’s hard to remember the last time we saw Dalić so disappointed, if we’ve ever seen it at all. After the unforgettable summer in which he led Croatia to the World Cup final and experienced the climax of his career, Dalić’s job may no longer be a fairy tale, reports Index.hr on March 25, 2019. 

The consequences of the brutal race in Russia are still present; the players are not in rhythm and are lacking fight, strength, and ideas. The defense is plagued with blunders, the attack does not exist, and defenders mostly score goals. These are serious tasks for Dalić and his decisions in this cycle will be crucial. In the World Cup, he could rely on the class and experience of players who had nothing left to lose. Modrić’s generation, one of the oldest in the tournament, was last reunited in Russia. They did not need a particular motive, a top expert or a better system. They needed a positive atmosphere, a coach that believed in himself and them, and had elementary knowledge on how to make a substitution after an hour of play. Or, more specifically: they needed a coach who wouldn't bother them and understood them. This luxury did not happen for years, as this generation was more or less successfully trained by beginners, and when the situation escalated, Modrić took over the responsibility. This could be seen in front of the cameras on Rujevica, which ultimately dismissed Ante Čacić.

Russia was the last chance for the best generation of Croatian football to achieve a concrete result and to erase the consequences of the tragic, but deserved, elimination from major tournaments of the last decade. In addition to their decision to go to the end, a lot of luck was needed to place in the World Cup final. They fought and fought hard to get everything.

Today, the Croatian national team has nothing but beautiful memories. The premiums will be spent, and they have a piece of silver they can hide behind. Unlike Russia, they now need their top strategist and manager. Dalić’s work in the team has just begun. For the Euro, Croatia is Dalić’s team - he chooses the players, makes the decisions and builds from the ground. The results will show what kind of coach he really is. The shift from generation to generation is the biggest challenge for Dalić, who has no problem with rotating and testing various options, but for now, there is no clear pattern or good results.

Dalić is aware of the problem. And even after the game, albeit obstinate, he openly said it. The solution, however, was not offered.

"The World Cup finalists are a target for everybody. Each opponent against us goes to the maximum, and we are obliged to respect each other. It is not always easy for players to do the best, sometimes some luck is needed,” Dalić said, pointing to the key issues while awaiting someone else's solution.

"Yes, we have small problems and not all players are in the rhythm. The ball was ours, but we did not do anything special. It is now classic to get goals from set pieces and corners. There is no blaming, no drama, no rationalization. Hungary was better. As a team, we were not at our level, and that's why we lost. We did not finish off Hungary, but we let them get back in the game. We did nothing in the attack, and the Hungarians were more aggressive, that's the key. In the second half we had a reckless initiative, but then that stop in play happened again,” Dalić explained.

After the World Cup Dalić achieved only three wins in eight games and received 15 goals, of which most came from set pieces and corners. These goals were also received during the World Cup. Classic, as the coach himself, said. The team is always training to defend set pieces and warns players when they are threatened, but there hasn't been a shift.

And there are no goals. After the departure of Mario Mandžukić, Croatia has no world class striker. Kramarić is successful in the Bundesliga but is not the guy who will pull up the whole team and settle the game with a couple of touches, practically without the ball. In the World Cup semifinal, Mandžukić held the ball for two minutes and did everything a real attacker needed to do in a big game. Croatia does not have such a player at the moment. There is also the worry that Croatia no longer has a secure midfield, although Croatia has a surplus of superior midfielders. Dalić has to settle everything from scratch.

Dalić tried everything against Hungary, and even changed the whole system in the last 15 minutes, leaving Croatia with three defenders and adding another attacker Bruno Petković. Dejan Lovren finished the match up top, but nobody could score.

"We changed everything, but we did not get anything," Dalić said briefly and clearly.

Dalić did not speak about the patterns, nor did he draw any possible solutions. At this point, we're not sure they actually exist. 

"These players have given so much to Croatia. And hard work and joy. A single defeat will not unhinge us. It was a deserved loss. We weren’t on our level in either of the games, but it will be better. It is up to me to do this and to be ready for Wales,” Dalić said upon his arrival in Zagreb.

"We had a bad reaction yesterday, a drop in concentration. We have to get up. Keep our heads up moving forward. One defeat will not break us. Thanks to the fans who supported us. A defeat is difficult, but we learn lessons. I said that the group is not easy. There is no easy opponent. Especially for us, everyone is eager because we are the World Cup finalists. If we are not serious and motivated as we were in the World Cup, and if we do not give everything of ourselves, it will not go well,” Dalić concluded.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 24, 2019 - Croatia and Hungary met in Budapest on Sunday for their second qualifier for the European Championship in 2020. Recall, Croatia defeated Azerbaijan in their first game 2:1 in Zagreb. Around 1,500 Croatian fans attended the Groupama Arena in Budapest for Sunday’s game. 

Unlike in Croatia’s first game against Azerbaijan which was played on Thursday in Zagreb, Croatia’s composition looked a bit more familiar in Budapest. Namely, coach Zlatko Dalić could count on Tin Jedvaj in the defense, as well as Dejan Lovren who missed the first match due to a one-game suspension. Dalić also rested Marcelo Brozović in the first game, and only introduced Ante Rebić towards the end of the second half against Azerbaijan. This time around, these four players were part of the starting lineup. 

Croatia started the game with possession and had their first chance already in the third minute from a Luka Modrić free kick. Lovren’s header, however, went over the goal. Perišić shot in the 5th minute but hit right at the Hungarian keeper. Just moments later, Barišić crossed to Kramarić who hit over the goal. Vida saved Hungary ’s chance from a free kick in the 7th minute.

Kalinić had to make a brilliant save in the 9th minute after Hungary capitalized on a quick counter down the right side. And then it happened in the 12th minute - Hungary’s defense fell apart after Modrić crossed the ball into the box. Kramarić got his foot on the cross which found the boot of Rebić who scored for 0:1!

Hungary threatened Croatia’s goal in the 19th minute, but the goal soared across the box without any problems. 

The next ten minutes went without any real excitement and pretty boring play by both sides. After the 30th minute, Hungary picked up their game and seemed to be keeping possession more than Croatia. And then it happened for Hungary - in the 34th minute, they rushed down the right side and Szalai snuck past Vida to equalize for 1:1.

Croatia looked anything but the World Cup finalists we know in this first half, and spent the better part of 45 minutes trying to sort out their form… with what looked like a lot of confusion. It was a pretty painful first half that luckily ended 1:1. 

The second half began with no changes for either side. 

Croatia’s first real chance of the second half came in the 58th minute, though Perišić was unable to make anything of it. The game carried on uneventfully, forcing Dalić to sub Rebić for young star Brekalo in hope of some action. 

Croatia started picking up their game in the 70th minute, with Brekalo making a run but failing to release a shot in time. But it was Hungary to get lucky, and they scored from a corner in the 75th minute. Hungary now led 2:1. 

Vida had a chance in the 78th minute from a corner, though his header went way over the goal. Croatia was lucky that Hungary didn’t score again in the 80th minute, and the incredible effort of Kalinić and Rakitić saved the team from total embarrassment. 

Croatia tried picking it up in the last 10 minutes, though Hungary also picked up their pace, making it anything but easy for Croatia to capitalize on their chances. The players were frustrated and tired, and it showed. Modrić had a chance in the final minutes but struck wide of the goal, and in the last minute, Croatia received a corner which left them empty-handed. The game ended 2:1 for Hungary.  

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

On this day 25 years ago, Ćiro Blažević first sat on the bench of the Croatia national football team and achieved a victory in Valencia, which resonated throughout the world. Croatia, then the 125th best team in the world, defeated Spain 2:0. The national team of Spain, at that time, held the seventh place on the FIFA ranking, reports Index.hr on March 23, 2019. 

Around 40,000 Spanish fans gathered at the nearby Mestalla stadium and expected a victory of their team against Croatia, who was just entering international football and was labeled as a complete unknown to the wider football public. Even more impressive was that Spain had a series of 20 consecutive victories.

The match in Valencia started perfectly for Croatia. Prosinečki pushed the ball from the center to the opponent's box and found the lone Šuker on the left, who struck from a poor first touch. Luckily, the ball came back to Prosinečki on the other side, who shot from 16 meters out and past the Spanish goalkeeper Zubizarreta for 1:0.

In the 51st minute, Croatia increased its lead. Mornar soared down the right side and crossed the ball in the middle where he found the head of Šuker who struck from seven meters. It should also be noted that Dražen Ladić defended the penalty of Aitor "Txiki" Begiristain Mujika, today's director of Manchester City, two minutes later. Pep Guardiola, the current manager of Manchester City, also played in this game.

In just one month, Croatia jumped 22 places on the FIFA ranking, and in April 1994, shared the 103rd place in the world.

This is how the Croatia national team looked against Spain 25 years ago:

Dražen Ladić, Nikola Jerkan, Igor Štimac, Slaven Bilić, Janko Janković, Robert Prosinečki, Stipe Andrijašević, Aljoša Asanović, Robert Jarni, Alen Bokšić, Davor Šuker, Dubravko Pavličić, Ivica Mornar, Ante Miše, Goran Vlaović. Because of an injury, the legendary captain Zvonimir Boban could not play.

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

March 21, 2019 - Croatia and Azerbaijan met on Thursday at Maksimir stadium in Zagreb to kick off their Euro 2020 qualifiers. On Sunday, Croatia will visit Hungary in Budapest.